Media

Rob's media library…

A searchable library of posts to give you context for today…

Search tools are below the articles.Items from your search will appear here.

Published on Monday, April 3, 2017

Oakville Transit gets $5 million in federal funding

Oakville MP John Oliver delivers transit funding boost

Oakville leaders cheer transit funds news

Photo by Nathan Howes/Metroland - Left to right: Oakville North-Burlington MP Pam Damoff, Oakville MPP and Ontario Labour Minister Kevin Flynn, Oakville MP John Oliver and Mayor Rob Burton appeared at the Oakville Transit facility Friday, March 31 to jointly release the details of $4,982,431 in federal government funding to be given to Oakville Transit.

By Nathan Howes, Oakville BeaverThe federal government is kicking in almost $5 million to improve public transit in Oakville.

The announcement was made on Friday, March 31, as part of the federal government’s infrastructure funding outlined in the 2017 budget, including contributions to GO Transit Regional Express Rail projects across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area.

A total of $4,982,431 will be given to Oakville Transit to meet ridership demand, increase ridership accessibility and ideal bus life expectancy, as well as to install and replace transportation infrastructure such as bus shelters and monitoring equipment.

The funding will also provide for eight new 30-foot growth buses, two accessibility-growth vehicles, refurbishment of 15 of 2009-year buses, bike lockers and racks.

“It really is a good day in Oakville for public transit,” said Oliver.

“The Government of Canada has been hard at work to deliver unprecedented investments in infrastructure.”

The Oakville Transit funds, part of a $1.4 billion Public Transit Infrastructure Fund, are available to support 15 projects beginning in 2017.

Damoff said the government is “following through” on its commitment to help Oakville commuters spend less time travelling to and from work, resulting in more time spent with their families.

The Oakville North-Burlington MP also thanked transit staff for making “such a difference for the Town of Oakville.”

“When I commuted to downtown Oakville to work, I sure wish there was more frequency in the schedule and for the ability to safely ride my bike or take local transit to and from work more easily,” said Damoff.

“Our investment in public transit will help encourage more people in our community to take public transit, walk or cycle and allow families to spend more time together.”

Flynn said Oakville’s public transit system has grown and evolved over the years — from a commuter’s service to connecting to GO trains, to helping local residents live their daily lives.

“It’s so nice to be able to work with a federal government because it’s time that all three levels of government to work together on an issue that people have been expecting them to work on a much better fashion,” said Flynn.

Town council responded to concerns from Oakville Transit 10 years ago and expanded local service by 50 per cent, Burton said.

It switched from a radial system that went “in and out” of the GO station, to a grid scheme, which provided more personal mobility.

“It is wonderful to have the higher levels of the government, the province and the country, stepping forward in joining us in the transit vision and helping to expand transit,” said Burton.

Oliver also talked about a $1.9 billion investment for Phase 1 of the Metrolinx/GO Transit projects, which will reduce urban congestion, increase transit ridership and improve safety and mobility in the GTA.

In Oakville, the initiative will extend the GO Transit Lakeshore West line, from Burlington to West Harbour station, and introduce needed grade-road separations.

“We’re working together with our provincial and municipal partners to plan and deliver infrastructure projects that will shape our country for years to come,” said Oliver.

“I’m so pleased to see those announcements for Metrolinx come forward.”

By investing in infrastructure, the projects “Canada needs and the people who build them,” Oliver said it can strengthen and grow the middle-class jobs, create well-paying jobs and make the country a better place to live in.

“Gridlock on the roads, the time it takes out of people’s lives and the environmental costs of all the costs of carbon emissions of the gridlock, was extremely important to Oakvillians,” said Oliver.

“Our government is committed to strengthening communities and growing our local economy by helping residents reduce commute times and traffic congestion.”